Blues may have interest in signing Arnott

DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 23: Jason Arnott #44 of the St. Louis Blues skates against the Detroit Red Wings during their NHL game at Joe Louis Arena on January 23, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images) By Dan Mueller

(HockeyStL) -- With injuries to key forwards decimating the Blues’ offensive capability, the Blues may turn to a free agent that they have a brief history with. Blues general manager Doug Armstrong told Fox Sports Midwest on Sunday that he has had contact with veteran free agent forward Jason Arnott.

Arnott, 38, played in 72 games with the Blues last season, but his tenure with the team ended with some tension. Arnott was scratched from the Blues’ lineup for games three and four of the Western Conference semifinals last year, and it did not sit well with the veteran. The Blues chose not to re-sign the center in the offseason.

Arnott has yet to play this season. He was on the verge of signing with the New York Rangers in late January, but the deal fell through due to “medical concerns”. The specifics of the Rangers’ concerns are not known, but Arnott underwent knee surgery this past summer and perhaps the Rangers feared the center’s knee was not fully healed.

In his career, Arnott has played in 1,244 National Hockey League (NHL) games, tallying 938 points (417 goals, 521 assists) with the Edmonton Oilers, the New Jersey Devils, the Dallas Stars, the Nashville Predators, the Washington Capitals, and most recently, the St. Louis Blues. Arnott scored the Cup-winning goal with the New Jersey Devils in 2000.

In 72 games with the Note, Arnott tallied 34 points (17 goals, 17 assists). He was implemented on the Blues’ power play, and added size to the Blues’ lineup. Armstrong said on Sunday that Arnott will skate with the team for the remainder of the five-game road trip. According to the Post Dispatch, Arnott has relayed to Doug Armstrong that he still has a great desire to play, despite his age.

With Alex Steen, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Andy McDonald all on injured reserve, the Blues may entertain the prospect of signing Arnott, assuming that the veteran proves he can still produce at the NHL level.